Jean-Luc Picard quotes from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Picard

Lieutenant, I order you to relax.

Worf

I AM RELAXED!

Data

For Commander Riker's sake, I hope my hypothesis is in error.

Picard

Unfortunately, Commander Data, your hypotheses rarely are.

Data

Captain. Doctor. I am honoured by your presence, but may I suggest you attend the second concert.

Beverly Crusher

Why, Data?

Data

Ensign Ortiz will perform the violin part. My rendition will be less enjoyable.

Jean-Luc Picard

Oh?

Data

Although I am technically proficient, according to my fellow performers, I lack soul.

Beverly Crusher

Data, telling us why you're going to fail before you make the attempt is never wise.

Data

But is not honesty always the preferred choice?

Jean-Luc Picard

Excessive honesty can be disastrous, particularly in a commander.

Data

Indeed?

Jean-Luc Picard

Knowing your limitations is one thing. Advertising them to a crew can damage your credibility as a leader.

Data

Because you will lose their confidence?

Beverly Crusher

And you may begin to believe in those limitations yourself.

Jean-Luc Picard

Pursuant to paragraph one thousand, two hundred and ninety, I hereby formally request third party arbitration of our dispute.

You have the right.

Jean-Luc Picard

Furthermore, pursuant to subsection D3, I name ... the Grizzelas to arbitrate.

Grizzelas?

William Riker

(mouths) Grizzelas?

Jean-Luc Picard

Unfortunately, they are currently in their hibernation cycle. However, they will awaken in six months, at which time we can get this matter settled. Now, do you want to wait... or give me my three weeks?

Absurd! We carry the membership! We can brook no delay!

Jean-Luc Picard

Then I hereby declare this treaty in abeyance.

Wait! Negotiation is permiss...!

William Riker

You enjoyed that.

Jean-Luc Picard

You're damned right.

Nuria

That is my home?

Picard

Seen from far, far above.

Nuria

Yet we do not fall. I never imagined I would see the clouds from the other side. Your powers are truly boundless.

Picard

Nuria, your people live in huts. Was it always so?

Nuria

No. We have found remnants of tools in caves. Our ancestors must have lived there.

Picard

So why do you now live in huts?

Picard

If huts are better, why did you once live in caves?

Nuria

The most reasonable explanation would be that at one time we didn't know how to make huts.

Picard

Just as at one time you did not know how to weave cloth, how to make a bow.

Nuria

That would be reasonable.

Picard

Someone invented a hut. Someone invented a bow, who taught others, who taught their children, who built a stronger hut, built a better bow, who taught their children. Now, Nuria, suppose one of your cave dwelling ancestors could see you as you are today. What would she think?

Nuria

I don't know.

Picard

Put yourself in her place. You see, she cannot kill a hornbuck at a great distance. You can. You have a power she lacks.

Nuria

Only because I have a bow.

Picard

She's never seen a bow. It doesn't exist in her world. To you, it's a simple tool. To her, it's magic.

Nuria

I suppose she might think so.

Picard

Now, how would she react to you?

Nuria

I think she would fear me.

Picard

Just as you fear me.

Nuria

I do not fear you any longer.

Picard

Good. That's good. You see, my people once lived in caves. And then we learned to build huts and, in time, to build ships like this one.

Nuria

Perhaps one day, my people will travel above the skies.

Crusher to Picard. I think we're going to lose Warren.

I'm here, Mary.

Prepare two cc's of norep.

I'm sorry.

Nuria

Picard, you could not save her?

Picard

No.

Nuria

You do have limits. You are not masters of life and death.

Picard

No, we are not. We can cure many diseases and we can repair injuries, we can even extend life. (bleakly) But for all our knowledge, all our advances, we are just as mortal as you are. We're just as powerless to prevent the inevitable.

Nuria

You are a remarkable people, but you are not superior beings. My people must be made to understand that.

Picard

Now, Mister LaForge.

Nuria

What is that?

Picard

A place where we can watch your people.

But why?

Picard

To study you. To understand your ways. Discontinue, Mister LaForge.

Nuria

Picard, why should a people so advanced want to learn about us?

Picard

We were once as you are now. To study you is to understand ourselves.

But why did you have to hide yourself from us?

Because their presence would affect us, just as it affected me.

Picard

It is our highest law that we shall not interfere with other cultures.

Then revealing yourselves was an accident.

Picard

Oh, yes, and now we must leave you.

Why? There's so much you can teach us.

Picard

But that, too, would be interference. You must progress in your own way.

Nuria

So we will. You have taught us there is nothing beyond our reach.

Nuria

Pah'kee.

Nuria

I wish you good journeys, Picard. Remember my people.

Picard

Always.

Picard

Jeremy, Wesley's father died on a Starfleet mission, when he was younger than you are.

Troi

Wes, your mother told me you were finding it difficult to talk to Jeremy. Why is that?

Wesley Crusher

I don't know. I just don't want to think about it any more. All this has reminded me so much of that day.

Picard

The day I told you your father had been killed. As I recall, Wesley, you took it very well.

Wesley Crusher

My parents had told me about the dangers of Starfleet missions. I knew it could happen.

Picard

So, you were prepared?

Wesley Crusher

No! I wasn't prepared at all. How can anyone be prepared to hear that a parent is never coming home again? I tried to be what everyone expected of me. Brave and mature.

Picard

Wesley, are you saying you didn't want anybody to see what you were really feeling? [Wesley nods] What were you really feeling?

Wesley Crusher

Like... somebody had licked me in the head.

Picard

"Somebody?"

Troi

Go on. You've wanted to tell him for a long time.

Wesley Crusher

I was angry at you.

Picard

Why me? Why were you angry at me, Wesley? Were you angry at me because I was the one who told you your father was dead?

Wesley Crusher

No.

Picard

Then, why?

Wesley Crusher

Because you led the mission. You came home, and my father didn't.

Troi

How long were you angry with the captain, Wes?

Wesley Crusher

For a long time. But not any more.

Picard

It is exactly as they left it, Number One. In the bottle. [seeing his confusion]... The ship in the bottle. [further confusion] Good Lord, didn't anybody here build ships in bottles when they were boys?

Worf

I did not play with toys.

Data

I was never a boy.

[brightly] I did, sir.

Picard

Thank you, Mister O'Brien. Proceed.

[defensively] I did! I really did! Ships in bottles? Great fun!

My name is DaiMon Goss and these are my counsels, Kol and Dr Aridor. We'll need chairs.

Jean-Luc Picard

I'm Captain Picard of the Enterprise. I am serving as host for these proceedings.

Good. Then see to it we get some chairs.

Picard

Let me explain.

Fine, fine, just have your Klingon servant get us some chairs.

Worf

I am in charge of security!

Then who gets the chairs?

I urge you, Captain Picard: surrender. Consider the men and women you would lead into a lost cause!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

If the cause is just and honorable, they are prepared to give their lives. Are you prepared to die today, Tomalak?

I expected more than an idle threat from you, Picard.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Then you shall have it! Mr. Worf?

Worf

Aye, sir!

Worf

Klingon warships, armed and ready, sir!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

What shall it be, Tomalak?

You will still not survive our assault.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

And you will not survive ours. Shall we die together?

Success, Captain?

Jean-Luc Picard

Number One, note in your report that if the government of Angosia survives the night, we will offer Federation assistance in the efforts to reprogram their veterans.

And if the government doesn't survive?

Jean-Luc Picard

I have a feeling they will choose to.

Lt Cmdr. Data

[on the transport device of the terrorists] Captain, anyone who is willing to transport in this manner would suffer significant internal damage that could be detected.

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

It sounds as though they may require the services of a doctor.

Dr. Beverly Crusher

He's prepared to kill you.

Jean-Luc Picard

An excellent reason to escape.

Lt Cmdr. Data

But if that is so, Captain, why are their methods so often successful? I've been reviewing the history of armed rebellion, and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change.

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Yes, it can be. But I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun.

Lt Cmdr. Data

Yet there are numerous examples when it was successful: the independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish Unification of 2024, and the Kenzie Rebellion.

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Yes, I am aware of them.

Lt Cmdr. Data

Then would it be accurate to say that terrorism is acceptable, when all options for peaceful settlement have been foreclosed?

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Data, these are questions that mankind has been struggling with throughout history. Your confusion is… only human.